Jacques 2:22

22 Ne vois-tu pas que la foi agissait avec ses œuvres, et que par les œuvres la foi fut rendue parfaite?

Jacques 2:22 Meaning and Commentary

James 2:22

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works
Not to justify him before God; for neither faith nor works are ever said in Scripture to justify any man; but his faith being of the right kind, a faith which works by love, it put him upon doing this work, and many others; for this was done in faith, ( Hebrews 11:17-19 ) as all good works are, which are properly such; and where there is true faith, it will influence and engage a man to do good works, as it did Abraham.

And by works was faith made perfect?
not with an absolute perfection; for though Abraham's faith was very great, yet there were things lacking in it, and he had his fits and times of unbelief; and had he lived till now, his faith, in this sense, would not have been perfect; and he would have had reason to have used the apostle's petition, ( Luke 17:5 ) much less would it have been made thus perfect by works; but the sense is, that hereby his faith was declared to be sincere, unfeigned, true, and genuine; just as love is said to be perfected, ( 1 John 4:17 ) .

Jacques 2:22 In-Context

20 Mais, ô homme vain! veux-tu savoir que la foi sans les œuvres, est morte?
21 Abraham notre père, ne fut-il pas justifié par les œuvres, lorsqu'il offrit Isaac, son fils, sur l'autel?
22 Ne vois-tu pas que la foi agissait avec ses œuvres, et que par les œuvres la foi fut rendue parfaite?
23 Et ainsi ce que dit l'Écriture, s'accomplit: Abraham crut à Dieu, et cela lui fut imputé à justice, et il fut appelé ami de Dieu.
24 Vous voyez donc que l'homme est justifié par les œuvres, et non par la foi seulement.
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.